Perks Preferences?

[pinepig]

What kinds of perks get your attention and encourage you to dig into your hard-earned cash? I'm trying to figure out how to adapt crowdfunding to my photography and am interested in knowing what people like, what is The Shiny that encourages them to dig in. And what are realistic levels to ask for when you're a budding artist?

You don't have to actively support crowdfunding or photography or crowdfunded photography if you want to answer.

I figure prints are always a possibility. The 2 biggest issues with that right now are cost of postage & getting time to ship (I live in New Zealand) & our printer, while a good photo printer, sometimes puts marks on the back of the paper and I'm afraid this might turn people off.

I like ysabetwordsmith's use of posting a few pictures in her journal and then offering to post others if she gets donations. I usually upload my picts to Webshots for people to see/download as screensavers/send as e-cards. I could hold a few prize ones back when I do this and offer to upload them if I get donations. When I upload my Webshots I'll usually upload a few of the better ones to my Weblogimages account and post them in my journal.

I could also see if there's a way create a special album at Webshots and lock it to only certain people. I don't know if it's possible and this would require my audience getting a Webshots account.

Or I could make a special Donor filter and post the picts on that on my DW/LJ.

What are your thoughts?

And come to think of it, how do you make a Paypal donation button?

(ETA: Sorry ysabetwordsmith, not sure what tag would fit best for this so I've put networking but feel free to tell me what to change it to!)

Comments

[pinepig]

Thank you for your thoughts. Our printer is photo-quality and does up to about 11x14 but it's a bit long in the tooth. We'll eventually replace it (probably still a bit to go yet though) but the printing service is probably the best way to go until then if I'm offering donor perks.

I agree, people do expect professionalism for their money.

When you do buy prints, or if you were to buy prints, what kinds of things would you look for (sizes, prices, subjects)??

[thejeopardymaze]

If I was to buy, the intensity of color and detail would be very important to me. Size, I'm not sure, because I don't plan on decorating my living space until I can move out. Prices-that depends, I'm not sure if I can answer that right now, but I think it should reflect the quality of the artwork and printing that went in to it.

[pinepig]

Cool, thank you for your thoughts! I do appreciate the feedback. :)

I should have added this-

[thejeopardymaze]

I've heard rather bad things as of late about print quality of many of the books being released these days that age and disintegrate quickly because the publishers want to be cheap. The lack of acid-free paper is only part of the problem. I hope the same isn't going on in the print making world, because I'm not unwilling to pay for high quality paper.

Re: I should have added this-

[pinepig]

Publishers, like everyone, will be looking to minimise costs and maximise profits. I've got a few books at Blurb and your comment made me realise I didn't know if their books are acid free! (They are).

I think there is a place for people who can, and people who can't afford, the high-end prints and books. My wife and I have a lot of "coffee table" art books. We both enjoy seeing other people's art, especially when it comes to photography.

And you have given me a good reminder that while there are many people on my friends list who aren't pulling in big dollars and couldn't afford to crowdfund much, there are people like yourself who are willing to pay for quality art and materials.

Re: I should have added this-

[thejeopardymaze]

Well, I'm not rich, and I don't know much about your artistry in the first place, but if I'm going to shell out money anymore, I want proof it was of high print quality.

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I like postcard-sized prints, the big postcards on really nice paper. I used to collect postcards when I went on vacations. I still have some from my trip to Russia that I framed -- though I didn't actually get them there, they were from the short stops on the way home. Denmark, maybe. So the size would be maybe 4x6 inches.

Following that, I like things that are either flat or matted to 8.5x11 or 9x12 inches. Most of my hung art prints are that size. I think the only things we have that are much bigger than that are either originals or limited-edition fine art prints. (We used to be less broke, though some of the originals were gifts.)